tavuk
/tɑˈvuk/
The Turkish word for chicken is tavuk.
tavuk is a noun used to refer to the bird, often specifically as a hen.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Which one should you use?
While tavuk refers to a chicken, the specific term for a rooster is horoz. If you are referring to a baby chicken, use the word civciv rather than a modified form of tavuk.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form, chickens, use tavuklar.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /tɑˈvuk/. The /v/ sound is like the [v] in vase, the /u/ sound is like the [oo] in cool and the /k/ sound is like the [c] in core.
Did you know?
- While tavuk is the general term, the word civciv for a baby chicken is often used as a term of endearment for small children or loved ones.
- In traditional Turkish cuisine, tavuk suyu or chicken broth is often treated as a medicinal remedy for colds and fatigue rather than just a soup base.
- The Turkish word tavuk is a cognate of the Chuvash word чӑх, showing a linguistic link to a language spoken in the Volga region of Russia.
Examples in context
- Bu tavuk çok pişmiş.This chicken is overcooked.This example shows how to describe the state of the tavuk.Tatoeba #4677687 by duran, translation #1912009 by Spamster
- Her gün tavuk yerim.I eat chicken every day.This sentence demonstrates the frequency of eating tavuk.Tatoeba #7114961 by tulin, translation #7114590 by CK
- Bir tavuk satın aldı.She bought a chicken.This sentence shows the use of tavuk when purchasing the bird.Tatoeba #3840976 by maydoo, translation #312081 by CK
- Pazar günü piliçli makarna yapmayı düşünüyorum.I'm thinking of making pasta with chicken on Sunday.
- 140 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mehmet and Merve are visiting a farm.
- MehmetBak, şu beyaz tavuk ne kadar tatlı!Look, that white chicken is so cute!
- MerveEvet, gerçekten çok sevimli görünüyor.Yes, it really looks very lovely.
- MehmetTavuk burada ne yiyor?What is the chicken eating here?
- MerveSadece yerdeki tahılları yiyor.It is only eating the grains on the ground.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations and entries tavuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tavuk, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
